Table 3 Communication aspects including relationship, referrals and communication methods
Relationship and referrals | Physicians (n = 269) | Osteopaths (n = 297) |
Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | |
Professional relationship (yes) | 96 (35.6) | 122 (41.1) |
Referrals | Typical month | Last 6 months |
0 | 104 (39.1) | 107 (36.0) |
1 | 55 (20.7) | 45 (15.2) |
2–3 | 42 (15.8) | 79 (26.6) |
4–5 | 13 (4.9) | 33 (11.1) |
More than 5 | 10 (3.8) | 33 (11.1) |
Never under any circumstances | 42 (15.8) | n/a |
New pediatric patients in osteopathic clinics referred by physicians over a two week period | n/a | 269/1293 (20.8) |
Written referral | 96 (35.7) | 96 (32.3) |
Preferred primary communication method | Physicians (n = 107) | Osteopaths (n = 126) |
Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | |
Letter | 38 (35.5) | 57 (45.2) |
Verbal to patient | 39 (36.4) | 48 (38.1) |
Phone | 19 (17.8) | 8 (6.3) |
5 (4.7) | 7 (5.6) | |
In person | 3 (2.8) | 4 (3.2) |
Fax | 3 (2.8) | 2 (1.6) |
Importance of having the other professional among collaborators | Physicians (n = 259) | Osteopaths (n = 291) |
Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | |
Not important | 38 (14.7) | 8 (2.8) |
Slightly important | 77 (29.7) | 39 (13.4) |
Quite important | 113 (43.6) | 163 (56.0) |
Very important | 31 (12.0) | 81 (27.8) |